Supporting means for glass surfacing apparatus



Dec. 4, 1934- J. P. CROWLEY I SUPPORTING MEANS FOR GLASS SURFACING APPARATUS Filed March 11. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HIN\ Dec. 4, 1934.

J. P. CROWLEY 1,982,641

SUPPORTING MEANS FOR GLASS SURFACING APPARATUS Filed March 11, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICESUPPORTING MEANS FOR GLASS SURFACING APPARATUS Ohio, a corporation ofOhio Application March 11, 1929, Serial No. 346,094

6 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for surfacing sheets of materialsuch as glass and the like and more particularly to an improvedsupporting means for the surfacing (grinding and/ or polishing)machines.

The present invention, while primarily designed for use in the so-calledcontinuous system for surfacing sheet glass, is, of course, notrestricted to use in such connection. In such continuous system,however, the grinding and polishing of the glass is accomplished in astraight-away operation, a plurality of sheets to be surfaced beingsupported upon a series of train of cars or carriers and passed firstbeneath a series of grinding machines and then beneath a series ofpolishingmachines. While the present invention will be described hereinand illustrated in the drawings in connection with the supporting of thegrinding machines, yet it will be readily apparent that the same canalso be, and in fact is, used to support the polishing machines.

An important object of the invention is the provision of improvedsupporting means for glass surfacing machines whereby a plurality ofsuch machines may be supported closely adjacent one another in a line,said supporting means being so constructed and arranged that thegrinding heads of the grinding machines and the polishing runner framesof the polishing machines may be easily handled and so that anyone ofthem can be readily removed from and replaced in the line withoutdisturbing the other machines or materially affecting the surfacingoperations.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedstructural support for glass surfacing machines including a three-pointsupporting frame, which is of exceedingly strong and durableconstruction and which will rigidly support the machines and reduce to aminimum 0 any tendency towards vibration.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a supportingframe whereinthe supporting legs thereof are so positioned with respect4 to one another that the grinding heads or polishing runner frames maybe removed laterally from or replaced in the surfacing line in apractical and convenient manner, the supporting frame being such that itrequires no leveling and will at all times rigidly support the machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparentduring the course of the following description when taken inconneccation and wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the supporting apparatus provided by thepresent invention,

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2 2 60. of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a portion thereof.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings consists essentially of threeprincipal units, namely, the carrier system for supporting the glasssheets to be surfaced and which is designated in its entirety by theletter A, the surfacing machine designated in its entirety by the letterB, and the improved supporting means or frame provided by the presentinvention for supporting the surfacing machine above the carriers andwhich is designated in its entirety by the letter C.

The carrier system A consists of a plurality of cars or tables 10supported upon wheels 11 which runs along tracks 12. The tracks 12 aresupported upon base plates 13 resting upon the concrete foundation 14and secured in position by means of tie-rods or the like 15 which areimbedded therein. A desired number of tables 10 are adapted to bearranged end to end in preferably abutting relation as is well known inthe art and are movable along therails in a predetermined horizontalpath to carry a plurality of glass sheets 16 mounted thereupon firstbeneath a series of grinding machines and then beneath a s5 series ofpolishing machines. The glass sheets are preferably secured upon theupper surfaces of the tables by imbedding them within a layer of plasterof Paris or the like 17, the adjacent sheets being spaced from oneanother as shown.

Referring now to the particular construction of the supporting means C,for the surfacing machine B, it will be noted that the same consists ofa three-point supporting frame including a hub 18 from whichradiate thethree substantially 5 horizontal supporting arms or legs 19, 20 and 21.The supportinglegs are so positioned with respect to one another thatthey form in effect, a non-symmetrical or spider tripod frame as bestshown in Fig. 1. The supporting legs are pref- 10o erably of hollowconstruction and the legs 19 and 21 are in substantial horizontalalignment with one another and extend diagonally over the glasssupporting tables 10, although the leg 21 is shown as being slightlylonger and larger than leg 19. The supporting leg 20 extends from apoint substantially intermediate the legs 19 and 21 and is positioned atan obtuse angle with respect to leg 19 and at an acute angle withrespect to leg 21. The outer ends of the-legs 19 and 20 aresubstantially parallel but not in alignment with one another since leg20 terminates slightly inwardly of leg 19.

The leg 19 projects to one side of the tables 10 while the legs 20 and21 project to the opposite side with the outer ends thereof beingopposite one another. The leg 19 is supported upon and secured to theupper end of a vertical column or support 22 positioned at the front ofthe surfacing machine to one side thereof, while the leg 20 is supportedupon and secured to the upper end of a vertical column or support 23 atthe rear of said machine. The leg 21 is supported upon the column 23 ofthe adjacent supporting frame. That is, each column 23 supports the leg20 of one frame and also the leg 21 of the adjacent frame. Thesupporting legs are preferably secured to the columns 22 and 23 by boltsor other fastening elements 6which extend through flanges '7 formed atthe ends of said legs. The supporting columns may be secured in place bymeans of tie-rods or the like 24 which project downwardly through theconcrete foundation 14 and are secured at their lower ends to plates 25imbedded therein, the tie-rods passing upwardly through lateralprojections or lugs 8 formed at the bottoms of said columns andreceiving upon their upper ends the nuts 9. The hub 18 of the supportingframe is offset with respect to the legs 19, 20 and-21 thereof and isformed with a central annular recess 26 having a raised bearing portion27 at substantially the center thereof While one particular type ofgrinding machine has been herein disclosed for the purposes ofillustration, it is to be understood that the supporting frame is not tobe restricted to use in connection therewith. The grinding machine 13em.

bodied herein, however, comprises a hollow housing 28 supported upon theframe C above the recess 26 in hub 18 and being-secured thereto by boltsor other fastening elements 29. Extending upwardly through the housing28 is the main vertical drive spindle or shaft 30 carrying at its lowerend the grinding head or runner 31 adapted to engage the glass sheets asthey'are carried therebeneath. The shaft30 is journaled intermediate itsends in a bushing32 mounted within the bearing portion 27 of thesupporting frame. Slidably keyed to shaft 30 and arranged within therecess 26 of the supporting frame is a worm gear 33 driven from themotor 34 through the motor shaft 35 and a worm not shown but whichmeshes with the worm gear. The motor, it will be noted, is also mountedupon the supporting column 23 at the rear of the surfacingmachinebetween supporting legs 20 and-21. The upper end of the drive spindle 30is threaded as at 36 and has threaded thereupon the rotatable butnon-slidable sleeve 37 carrying a worm gear'38 driven through suitabledrive connections from a motor 39 supported upon a horizontal platform40 carried by housing '28. Upon operation of the motor 39 toeffectrotation of the worm gear 38 and sleeve 37, the shaft 30 will bethreaded upwardly or downwardly through said sleeve dependent upon thedirection of rotation thereof to effect either a raising or lowering ofthe grinding head 31.

The grinding heads or tool3l ordinarily employed in the continuoussystem above described effect the grinding thereof-with the aid ofasuitable abrasive material which is usually discharged upon saidsheets. After a certain length of time, however, the grinding lugsbecome worn to such an extent that the grinding head must be removed anda new head substituted therefor. Consequently, it is essential that thegrinding machine be mounted and supported in such a manner that thegrinding heads thereof can be easily and quickly removed when theybecome worn and without disturbing the operation of any of the othermachines or material affecting the grinding operation.

The improved supporting frame herein provided-has been so designed as togreatly facilitate and expedite the removal and replacement of thegrinding heads to the end that the same can be accomplished with theexpenditure of a minimum amount of both time and labor. By arranging thetwo supporting legs 20 and 21 of the frame at the rear of the grindingmachine and only the single supporting leg 19at the front thereof, thecolumns 22 of adjacent supporting frames can be spaced from one anothera distance at least slightly greater than the diameter of the grindinghead with the result that the grinding head can be removed laterallyfrom the machine between the adjacent supporting columns 22. Forinstance, when it is desired to remove the grinding head, the motor 39is first operated to effect a raising of the grinding head from theglass as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 3. Acrane' or the likemay'then be moved to'a position over the grinding machine and the cranehooks engaged within the eyebolts 41 carried by the grinding'headpreferably at substantially diametrically opposite points. The grindinghead is then detached from the lower end of drive spindle 30, afterwhich the crane may be'operated tocarry the head laterally or forwardlyof the machine as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. l and outwardlybetween the adjacent supporting columns 22. A new grinding head can thenbe just as easily and quickly secured in position by simply reversingthe above operations.

The improved supporting frame herein provid ed, therefore, permits therapid and convenient removal and replacement of the grindingheads andlikewise will, in the same manner, facilitate the removal andreplacement of the polishing runner frames of the polishing machines.The particular construction of the supporting frame also permits thesurfacing machines to be positioned closely adjacent one another so asto conserve space. The supporting frame is of a strong, sturdy, anddurable construction and will rigidly support the machine at all times.Moreover, it might be said that the frame is non-leveling since thethree supporting legs willat all times rest firmly upon their respectivesupporting columns, and the necessity of using shims or the like betweenthe columns and legs is obviated.

Although the side of the grinding machine from which the grinding headis removed has been designated the front thereof, this term has beenused simply for the purposes of illustration and to simplify thedescription of the invention. The side of the machine from which thehead is removed, however, is usually termed the from because it is alongthis side that the operators are ordinarily stationed, although itcanjust as well be called the rear of the machine or one side thereof.

It is to be understood that the form ofthe invention herewith shown anddescribed is tube 1 its taken as the preferred embodiment of the same,and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In combination in surfacing apparatus of the character described,means for carrying a plurality of sheets to be surfaced in a definitesubstantially horizontal path, a series of surfacing machines mountedabove the first-named means and each including a surfacing runneradapted to treat the sheets as they are carried therebeneath, and meansfor supporting each surfacing runner, including a supporting framecomprising a hub and three substantially horizontal supporting legsradiating therefrom, two of said legs being in substantial alignmentwith one another and extending diagonally of the sheet carrying means toopposite sides thereof and the third leg projecting from a pointsubstantially intermediate the two first-mentioned legs and extendingtransverselyof the sheet carrying means to one side thereof, pedestalsat the opposite sides of the sheet carrying means outwardly thereof fordirectly supporting the respective legs thereupon, those portions of thetwo first-mentioned legs arranged over the runner lying to one side of astraight line drawn through the center of gravity of said runner topermit lateral removal of the runner while supported by a verticallypositioned removing means, and the third leg also lying to the same sideof the center of gravity of the runner. 1

2. In combination in surfacing apparatus of the character described,means for carrying a plurality of sheets to be surfaced in a definitesubstantially horizontal path, a series of surfacing machines mountedabove the first-named means and having surfacing runners adapted totreat the sheets as they are carried therebeneath, and means forsupporting each surfacing runner including a supporting frame comprisinga hub and three substantially horizontal supporting legs radiatingtherefrom, one of said legs extending diagonally of the sheet carryingmeans and dis posed at the front of the machine and to one side thereof,while the other two legs extend transversely of said sheet carryingmeans in substantially the opposite direction and are positioned at therear of the machine at opposite sides thereof, means at the oppositesides of the sheet carrying means outwardly thereof for supporting thesaid legs, the diagonal supporting legs of adjacent frames at the frontof the machine being spaced a distance greater than the diameter of thesurfacing runner to provide an opening through which the runner may belaterally removed, those portions of the legs arranged over the runnerbeing so shaped that they lie to one side of a straight line drawnthrough the center of gravity of said runner to permit verticalattachment of laterally movable removing means to said runner along saidcenter of gravity.

3. In combination in surfacing apparatus of the character described,means for carrying a plurality of sheets to be surfaced in a definitesubstantially horizontal path, a series of surfacing machines mountedabove the first-named means and each including a surfacing runneradapted to treat the sheets as they are carried therebeneath, and meansfor supporting each surfacing runner including a supporting framecomprising a hub and three substantially horizontal supporting legsradiating therefrom, said hub being offset with respect to said legs,pedestals at the opposite sides of the sheet carrying means'outwardlythereof for directly supporting the respective legs thereupon, two ofsaid legs being in substantial alignment with one another and extendingdiagonally of the sheet carrying means to opposite sides thereof, whilethe third leg extends transversely of the sheet carrying means from apoint substantially intermediate the two first-mentioned legs, meanscarried by the runner at diametrically opposed points for the attachmentof removing means thereto, those portions of said legs above the runnerbeing so shaped that they lie entirely to and intersect the hub at oneside of a straight line passing through said last-mentioned means soasto provide for the attachment of the removing means thereto and theremoval of said runner laterally without interference from said arms.

' 4. In combination in surfacing apparatus of the character described,means for carrying a plurality of sheets to be surfaced in a definitesubstantially horizontal path, a series of surfacing machines mountedabove the first-named means and each including a surfacing runneradapted to treat the sheets as they are carried therebeneath, and meansfor supporting each surfacing runner including a supporting framecomprising a hub and three substantially horizontal supporting legsradiating therefrom, said hub being offset with respect to said legs,one of said legs extending diagonally -of the sheet carrying means anddisposed at the front of the machine and to one side thereof, while theother two legs extend transversely of said sheet carrying means insubstan tially the opposite direction and are positioned at the rear ofthe machine at opposite sides thereof, means at the opposite sides ofthe sheet carrying means outwardly thereof for supporting the said legs,the diagonal supporting legs of adjacent frames at the front of themachine being spaced a distance greater than the diameter of thesurfacing runner to provide an opening through which said runner may belaterally removed, means carried by the runner at diametrically opposedpoints for the attachment of removing means thereto, those portions ofthe legs above the runner being so shaped that they lie entirely to andintersect said hub at one side of a straight line passing through saidlast-mentioned means to provide for the attachment of the removing meansthereto and the removal of said runner laterally without interferencefrom said arms.

5. In combination in surfacing apparatus of the character described,means for carrying a plurality of sheets to be surfaced in a definitesubstantially horizontal path, a series or surfacing machines mountedabove the first-named means and each including a surfacing runneradapted to treat the sheets as they are carried therebeneath, and meansfor supporting each surfacing runner, including a supporting framecomprising a hub and three substantially horizontal supporting legsradiating therefrom, two of said legs being in substantial alignmentwith one another and extending diagonally of the sheet carrying means,one to the front of the machine and the other to the rear thereof, andthe third leg projecting from a point substantialy intermediate the twofirst mentioned legs and extending transversely of the sheet carryingmeans also to the rear of the machine, pedestals at the opposite sidesof the sheet carrying means outwardly thereof for directly supportingthe respective legs thereupon, those portions of the two first-mentionedlegs arranged over the runner lying to one side of a straight line drawnthrough the center of gravity of said runner to permit lateral removalof the runner while supported by a vertically positioned removing means,and the third leg also lying to the same side of the center of gravityof the runner, the three legs being of such length and so shaped thatwhen the third leg of any one supporting frame is positioned closelyadjacent the outer end of the diagonal supporting leg at the rear of theadjacent supporting frame, the diagonal supporting legs of the twoadjacent frames at the front of the machine will be spaced a distancegreater than the diameter of the surfacing runner.

6. In combination in surfacing apparatus of the character described,means for oarrying a plurality of sheets to be surfaced in a definitesubstantially horizontal path, a series of surfacing machines mountedabove the first-named means and each including a surfacing runneradapted to treat the sheets as they are carried therebeneath, and meansfor supporting each surfacing runner, including a supporting framecomprisinga hub and three substantially'horizontal supporting legsradiating therefrom, two of said legs being in substantial alignmentwith one another and extending diagonally of the sheet carrying means,one to the front of the machine and the other to the rear thereof, andthe third leg projecting from a point substantialy. intermediate the twofirst-mentioned legs and extending transversely of the sheetcarryingmeans also to the rear of the machine, the two diagonalsupporting legs being substantially straight throughout the greaterportionof their length and having curved outer end portions extending atan obtuse angle with respect to the straight portions thereof, andpedestals at the opposite sides of the sheet carrying means outwardlythereof for directly supporting the respective legs thereupon, thoseportions of the two first-mentioned legs arranged over the runner lyingto one side of a straight line drawn through the center of gravity ofsaid runner to permit lateral removal of the runner while supported by avertically positioned removing means, and the third leg also lying tothe same side of the center of gravity of the runner, the three legsbeing of such length and so shaped that when the third leg of any onesupporting frame is positioned closely adjacent the outer end of thediagonal-supporting leg at the rear of the adjacent supporting frame,the diagonal supporting legs of the two adjacent frames at the front ofthe machine will be spaced a distance greater than the diameter of thesurfacing runner, with the curved end portion of the diagonal supportingleg at the front of the one supporting frame being substantiallyopposite the curved end portion of the diagonal supporting leg at therear of the adjacent frame.

JOSEPH P. CROWLEY.

